Holistic Approaches To Heart Diseases In Pets

Submitted by Dr. Marlene Smith-Schalkwijk

Here is a list of Western drugs used to treat heart problems (depending on the problem):

Lasix/Furosamide is a diuretic used to clear the lungs from fluids build up from poor function of the heart.
Benazapril, Fortekor, and Lowtensin are vasodilators, which dilate the blood vessels. This makes it easier for the heart to pump the blood out of the heart into the lungs or aorta.
Vetmedin - The physiological function of the heart in dogs and cats is identical to humans. Therefore, it is not surprising that both humans and their animal friends share many similar cardiac disorders. Congestive heart failure, heart murmurs, cardio-myopathy and pulmonary oedema (fluids in the lungs) are just a few examples of these shared disorders. Similarly, the drugs used to treat a given heart condition are the same whether the recipient is canine, feline or human. Predisposing factors for developing heart diseases, such as diet, weight, exercise, and hereditary factors also apply to our pets.

Prevention of Heart Diseases:
In holistic medicine we look at prevention as well as supporting the diseased heart. Taurine is an important protein building block (amino acid) for the heart. Humans make their own taurine and have a moderate requirement for it if the heart is disease free. Carnivores (dogs and cats) get their taurine or its building blocks directly from their food. Cats have a very high taurine requirement. This stems from their many years of primarily eating mice. Mice actually have the highest taurine levels of any animal. Taurine is naturally present in raw meat. When meat is heated or cooked (as happens in processed food) taurine gets destroyed, which results in a taurine deficient diet and leads to serious deficiencies for the heart muscles. When processed cat foods first came on the market, many cats died of a dilated cardio-myopathy due to taurine deficiency. Now almost all commercial animal foods have taurine added to them. Dogs and cats on a vegetarian or cooked meat diets are also at risk for developing taurine deficiency. However, this is easily remedied by either supplementing with taurine or by adding raw organ meat such as liver, heart or kidney (mice hearts having the highest taurine levels) to the diet. Other forms of dilated (thin walled) cardiomyopathy also benefit from taurine supplementation as this helps a weakened heart to function more efficiently.
Co-enzyme Q 10: All cells, including the heart muscle cells, need Co-enzyme Q 10 to create the energy for the muscles to contract. The heart muscle cells create their own Co Q 10 in sufficient amounts for normal function. However when these cells have to do overtime as in congestive heart failure or dilated cardiomyopathy, more CoQ10 is needed then the body can generate. Additional Co Q10 in the diet will support the heart muscle and help prevent exhaustion. Research in humans with heart disease has shown a significant increase in survival time in patients receiving Co Q 10.

Hawthorne also assists in the contractility of the heart and is often added to supplements for the heart.
Vitamin E also increases the heart contractility. It is also an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.
(Siberian) Ginseng increases the cell metabolism in general and also in the heart.

All of these supplements can change or potentiate some of the western drugs your pet may be on. Please consult your veterinarian if you wish to supplement your pet with a heart disease.

Gingko Biloba (from the Biloba tree in India) helps to dilate and strengthen the cardiac and brain blood vessels, helping to prevent strokes or heart attacks in patients with heart disease. It also has slight anti-coagulant effects helping in the prevention of blood clot formation, strokes and heart attacks.

Treating underlying diseases
Endocrine diseases such as thyroid disease (hypo or hyper), adrenal disease (Cushings, Addisons), kidney disease (causing hypertension), liver disease, immune disease (rheumatoid, lupus) and infectious diseases (Lyme’s, dental disease) can also affect the heart. Early detection through regular examination, blood test and treatment of these diseases can prevent the development of heart disease.

Hyperthyroidism in cats
Hyperthyroidism is the most common disease in elderly cats. These days we see cats as young as 8 years with hyperthyroidism. In this disease the thyroid produces an excessive amount of thyroid hormone causing the bodies metabolism to speed up. This leads to excessive hunger with weight loss, hyper-activity (especially at night), hypertension (causing kidney failure) and rapid heart rate. The hyper-activity of the heart causes a thickening of the heart muscle, called hypertrophic (or thick walled) cardio-myopathy. The heart chamber becomes very small, leading to the formation of blood clots, causing heart attacks, strokes and saddle thrombus. A saddle thrombus is an acute (and very painful) paralysis of the hind legs. Diet seems to be closely associated with the formation of hyperthyroidism. Cats on a raw food (raw meat) diet seem to have a lower incidence of such diseases as diabetes, irritable bowel disease and hyperthyroidism. More scientific research is needed in this field to come to definite conclusions. Hyperthyroidism can be treated with western drugs (Tapazole), radiation therapy, diet, homeopathic medicine and herbs (Motherwort, Melissa).

The best prevention of heart disease is a healthy diet (which includes fresh food) and regular exercise. Do not over exercise your dog by running him/her with a bike or car, or make your pet into a couch potato by leaving them alone at home all day while the whole family is at work. Make sure to take them for a good walk and play before you go to work and as soon you come home! Prevent exposure to extreme heat as leaving them in your car without adequate ventilation or on summer sunny days! Cats that live strictly indoors should be encouraged to play and their diet should be low or even better have no carbohydrates. If your animal has been diagnosed with a heart disease you may wish to consult a holistic veterinarian to discuss appropriate supplements.

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